Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26th, 1919. SOLDIERS’ VOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26th, 1919. SOLDIERS’ VOTES.

It seems to be altogether unsatisfactory that at the forthcoming licensing poll a large number of soldiers are to •be disfranchised by reason of being out of the country, on Empire service at the time the rolls closed. The representative deputation which waited on the Government at Wellington this week failed to elicit a satisfactory reply. The Ministers expounded the law, which one would suppose was like that of the Medes and Persians and altered not at aj). Yet, there ,aro occasions when Ministers can find a way to get round or over the law. In regard to expenditure, payments arc made outside the law, and a certificate is issued to the Auditor-General by the Ministry that upon the Assembly of Parliament, the acts will be validated with great frequency various matters come up for validation and receive the necessary itn- . press of Parliament. The Ministers talked about facilities being given for roll stuffing, but- every case must be judged by its own special circumstances. In this instance public opinion is altogether with the soldiers that men who have served and through no fault of their own are off the rolls, they should get their vote. It is not a question of electorate or locality. The poll covers the whole Dominion so that tile soldiers’ vote does not affect one constituency more than another. The position is exceptional, unique in fact, and it is surprising to find that under the wide powers of the war regulations this authority to vote cannot be provided. Even if Government took tile powers, there is not a voice which would be raised in Parliament which would oppose a, validating clause. When the matter was being discussed in the House if we mistake not, an effort- was made to safeguard the right of the soldiers to vote, wherever they might be on polling day, and this safeguard was supposed to have been insured. Not- to grant it creates dissatisfaction which will be widespread and opens the possibility to. trouble afterwards. The soldiers and the public too, will be' vory dissatisfied at this disfranchisement, whatever the result of the poll and particularly the voting be close, there will be a feeling abroad that it has not been final. There will be trouble caused if this feeling gets abroad and one would think matters were upset sufficiently now without adding unnecessarily to the difficulties of a very complex situation. In certain cases there is provision for the public to vote on making a pro. per declaration. A little elasticity and this proviso might he made to apply to the returned soldier who through no fault of his own is off the roll for the time being. The Ministers seemed to be building up a harrier rather than assisting to remove difficulties in the way. The point about the position is that the soldiers have earned the right to the vote and there should he some way in equity oT allowing the vote to be exercised. To deprive them of the right now, just as. the men return from war service is an injustice for which Government must be blamed primarily and the unfairness will rankle in many people’s minds.